Focusing device.



J. KIRBY. 1R.

.FOCUSING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.12.1918.

' 'InviEn-Inr Patented Feb. 25,1919.

JOHN KIRBY, JR., OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED STATES HEADLIGHT COMPANY, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION F NEW YORK.

FOCUSING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 12, 1918. Serial No. 253,678.

- of a. parabolic reflector, as set forth in my pending applications, Serial Number 249,383 filed August 12, 1918, and Serial Number 251,913, filed August 29, 1918, and from both of which my' present invention differentiates in certain particulars not described, or claimed therein but which will be made clear in this specification and pointed out in thev claims at the end thereof.

In headlights of the type to which my invention is applicable itis essential vthat the center of illumination be located with accuracy .iii respect of the focal point of the re- A flector 'and to this end my invention consists inthe novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter more fullyA Set forth and claimed.

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The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which constitute a part of this specification and in which Figure l1 is a side view, partly in full and partly in section, of a portion of the reflector with the focusing device i'ioiin'ted .thereon and showing the stand wh ch supports the rear end-of the reflector, Fie* 2 is a rear View, partly in section, and Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view through the center of movable block and the socket shank. i

Like reference. numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.

1 represents a 'portion of the reiector, the

frontend of which may be mounted upon any suitable slide or base, as 2, in the usual manner, not shown. A ring 3 is secured' to the rear of the reflector, the apex of which is cut away at 4 leaving an opening corresponding to the inner diameter of the said rin integgral with the said lring 3 there is a laterally disposed arm or bracket extension 5 having a depending screwgthreaded member 6, which in conjunction with the standard 7 and nuts 8 and 9 constitute means by whichr 3. At the bottom of and preferably" the rear end of the reiector is adjustably supported upon the base 2 as more fully described in my previous applications, above referred to. The free end of the bracket 5 is provided with an interiorly screw threaded boss 10 to receive a corresponding exteriorly screw threaded plug 11, projecting from a member 12, and when theseparts are screwed together, as shown in Fig. l, they are protected against displacement by means of a pin 13vdriven therethrough. The upper end of the member 12 is recessed to conform to the surface of a half sphere, the front and back wall being` cut away at 12, see Fig. 2, to permit of spherical movement of a socket shank presently to be described, the said recess forming a seat 1l, for a holder 15, thesurface of the lower portion of which conforms to the surfacel of the seat 11, in which the said holder is mounted. The lower end of the member 12 is also rounded at 16, to conform to the surface of a portion of a sphere and through the vertical center of this memberthere is a passageway 17 the purpose of which will presently appear. The numeral 18 designates the lamp bulb, within which is located the filament 19, the focal point of the reflector being designated at X. The lamp bulb is held in a socket 20 having a hollow extension or shank 21,

through which passes current conveying wires, not shown, and which is slidably mounted in a bore formed through the h'olderil above its scat in the member 12. The holder 15 is provided with an upstanding member 22 having a partially screw 'threaded bore therethrough, 4within the lower, threadless port-ion of which operates a vertically movable block 24e havin lits lower end curved. to conform to the diameter of the socket shank 21, as more clearly shown in Fig. 3.

Operative in the threaded portion 25 of the iii'ember22 there is a corresponding eX- teriorly screw threaded plug 26 provided The screw plug 26 israteiitea rei). a5, wie.

a tion to the screw threads therelqiy preventing Sti lundue movement oi the plug which otherwise would be liable to occur through jolting and vibrations incident toy a rapidly moving locomotive..

Depending from the bottom of the holder 15 there is a bolt or rod 30 which passes through the passage-way 17 and extends below the bottom ot the member 1Q, passing also through a washer 31 having; a seat conforming to and (3o-acting' with 'the bearing i forming the bottom of the member 12, the tree end ot this bolt or rod being screw threaded to receive a correspoi'idingly screw threaded hand n'heel (or thel equivalent thereof) b2, having provision. in the lorm ot a body 553, tor iinpinging' the surface 54 ot the washer 31` vvhereby turning' the hand wheel in one direction will clamp the holder 15 in its seat in the member 12 and n'ill also clamp thc bearing forming the bottom oi the member 12 in its scat in the washer 31, while a slight turn of the hand wheel in the opposite direction will relieve the parts so that the holder, carrying,- the socket and the lamp, can be moved about its .spherical center Within the limits oi movement oiithc rod 30, which is controlled by the passlm'enny 17, and which, in the present instance, the travel of the lamp is represented as being in an orbit indicated by broken lines in Fig. 1,l

its longitudinal movement beingI accom plished in the manner previously explained.

Located 'Within a chamber 35, partly in the body ot the hand wheel and partly in the Washer, and surrounding the rod 30 thereis a coiled spring 36 which, as in the case of the spring 25), pert'orn'is a dual function in 'that when thel screw pressure is relieved it retains the parts under yielding pressure and therebv restrains them trom too free or undesirable movement, and also imparts tension to the screw threads and thereby prevents undue movement ot the hand wheel when the locomotive is in motion.

Supplen'ientary to the foregoing described means for securing the holder 15 against undue movement in its seat in the member 1Q, and to make more certain the stability of the proper'relative osition ot the lamp to the reflector after t c same has been adjusted and fixed, twooppositely disposedtighteningry devices, carried by the member 12, are arranged, one on cach side, substantially in line with the spherical center of the holder iormed aanstaat '1.5, each device consisting' of a boss 37 having' an annular shoulder 38, and being bored and screw threaded to receive a set screw 39, provided With a lniurled Wheel-40, by Which the set screw is operated,a coiled spring l1 being; interposed between the shoulder 38 and the said wheel et), the function of the.

spring being to prevent undue movement ot the set screw, the'impinging end ot which may be cupped to conform to the contour of the holder. rhe set screws are designed to be applied to the holder 15 after it has been adjusted and secured to its seat in the member 12 by the ii'rst described means.

lt is to be understood that when the parts are assembled, as shown in the drawings, but little increment Will be required to ad- `inst the {ilament to its proper relation 'with the reflector.

Having thus fully described the construction and operation ot my invention as the preferred manner ot carrying out the same, l do not Wish to be understood as lin'iiting the invention to the specific details ot conu struction shown and described, as it is obvious that the same may be departed from in various ways Without departing Jfrom the scope and spirit of the invention.v

W hat l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

, 1'. ln a focusing' device7 in combination with a refiector, a lamp and a socket thereu for, a holder carrying said socket and having a bearing' constituting a portion ot' a sphere, a member located beloiv said holder and having a seat in which said bearing is mounted whereby said holder may be moved about; its spherical center to adjust the lamp with relation to the reflector, and means oi'ierative beneath and coacting With a spherically forn'ied bearing constituting the Abottom ot said member to grip. and retain said holder in such adjusted position.

2. In a focusing device, in combination with -a reliector, a lamp and a socket 'theretor, -a holder carrying` said socket and havino a bearing* constituting a portion oi a sphere, a member located below said/holder and having a seat in which said bear ne is mounted whereby said holder may l mbved about, its spherical center to adjust/ the lamp with relation to the reflector, i'neans operative beneath and teo-acting; with said mem-A ber to grip and'retain said holder in such adjusted position. and oppositely disposed auxiliary tightening devices carried by said member adapted' to engage said holder at points app'ro'xiniately'in line With the center horizontal line ot said shank.l l

3. In a focusing device, in combination with a rctlector, a lamp and a socket there-- `tor, a'holder carrying said socket and havi ingga bearing1 constituting a portion ot a sphere. a member located below said holder and-having a seat in which said bearing is naeaeaa mounted whereby said holder may be moved about its spherical center to adjust the lamp with relation to the reflector, a support for said member, and means operative beneath and co-acting with a spherically formed bearing constituting the bottom of said member to grip and retain said holder in such adjusted position.l

4. In a focusing device, in combination with a reflector, a lamp and a sockettherefor having a shank extending therefrom, a holder carrying said4 socket whose f shank is movable longitudinally in the holder, means for securing the socket against such movement, said holder having a bearing constituting a portion of a sphere. a member located below said holder and havingv a seat in which said bearing is mounted whereby said holder may be moved about its spherical center to adjust the lamp with relation to the reflector, and means operative beneath and co-acting with a sphericall)Y formed bearing constituting the bottom of said member to grip and retain said holder in such adjusted position.

5411i a focusing device, in combination with a reflector. a lamp and a lamp socket having a shank extending therefrom. a holder carrying said'socket the shank of which is movable longitudinally in said holder. mechanism comprising in part a movable block adapted to be forced 'against said shank to secure the socket against suoli movement, and means coperating with said block to exert yielding pressure on said shank and thereby `prevent too free move ment ,thereof when the same isotherwise free for adjustment.

6. In a, focusing device, in combina-tion vwith a reliector, a lamp and a lamp socket. having a shank extending therefrom, a holder carrying said socket the shank of which is movable longitudinally therein,

Vsaid holder having an upstanding member provided with a partially screw threaded bore therethrough. a movable block operative in said bore. and adapted to impinge said shank'` a chambered screw threaded plug operative in saidbore and adapted to force, said block against said shank, and a spring located in said chamber adapted to exert 'yielding pressure on lsaid block thereby to prevent too free movement of the shank when they screw pressure is relieved.

7. ln a focusing device. in combination, a socket holder having a bearing constituting a portion of a sphere, a support carrying a member having a seat corresponding With said bearingand in which said holder is mounted, said member being also provided with a lower bearing corresponding with' said seat and having a passageway Ato tighten and retain said holder against movement in its seat in said member, and

means coperating with said mechanismadapted to exert yielding pressure against said washer thereby to prevent too free movement of said holder when the' same is otherwise free for adjustment.

l8. In a focusing device, in combination with a reflector, a lamp and a socket therefor having a shank adapted to slide in 'a holder, a holder for said shank, a device for securing said shank against movement in said holder, the said holder being provided with a bearing constituting a portion of a sphere, a member having a seat registering with said bearing and in which the holder is mounted, said member being also provided with a lower bearing corresponding with said `seat and having a passageway therethrough, a support for said member, a.

rod extending from said holder through and below said passage-way, a washer having a seat conforming to and coacting with said lower bearing, and means coperating with said washer and said rod to tighten andrea tain said holderagainst movement in its seat in said member.

9. As a new article of n'ianufacture con-A stituting a component part of a focusing to the contour of said seat, the said member being provided with a passage-nay through the vertical center line of said seat and said bearing. f

v10. As a new, article of manufacture constituting a component part of a focusing device, a member having a seat partakiug of the form of the ,surface ofaportion of a sphereand adapted to 'receive va socketl holder` the bottom of sa-id member vcomprising a hearing conforming to the .contour of said seat. the said member being provided A.tomi KIRBY, JR.

Witnesses:

H. D. HENDRICK NORMAN Jones. 

